Former County GOP Chair Chosen To Fill Senate Seat Vacated By Trump Appointee

A panel of Laramie and Platte County commissioners on Friday unanimously selected former Laramie County GOP chairman Taft Love to fill a vacant state Senate seat that previously belonged to former state Sen. Darin Smith, R-Cheyenne.

Smith resigned his seat representing Senate District 6 earlier this month after President Donald Trump nominated him to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming. He was sworn into that role on an interim basis in August and now faces a U.S. Senate confirmation process to make the appointment official. 

As Smith’s replacement, Love will represent parts of Laramie County and all of Platte County. Love was one of three finalists for the role selected by Wyoming Republican Party precinct committee members from Laramie and Platte Counties out of an original pool of 10 names.

Love ran unsuccessfully for the District 6 seat in the 2024 Republican Primary, coming in third behind Smith and Eric Johnston. He also is a former chairman of the Laramie County Republican Party.

Also in consideration for the role were Platte County Election Judge Roy Birt, and retired Missouri Air National Guard Chief Master Sgt. Jeff Barnes.

While Smith wouldn’t have been up for reelection until 2028, state statute says that Love must run for reelection in 2026 if he wants to keep his appointed seat. He promised during Friday’s hearing that he intends to do just that.

Special Meeting

During the special meeting Friday, the county commissioners for Laramie and Platte counties heard testimony from each of the three candidates up for consideration before an audience of about 20 community members. They then adjourned the session for a half hour before returning to vote on their selection via ballot.

Laramie County’s five commissioners had their votes weighted at a little more than 10% each while the votes of Platte County’s three commissioners counted for 16%. That’s due to a state-law requirement deferring to population proportions of each county in the Senate district.

Laramie County Commissioner Troy Thompson told Cowboy State Daily ahead of the meeting such a rare occasion as appointing a state legislator represented an opportunity to help determine the future of the state.

“The future of Wyoming is in the hands of this person,” he said. “We’re going to ask a lot of questions of these folks about how do they go about different issues. For us we want to know about how they feel about county government and about funding county government.”

Love Wins

Love, the first to address the commissioners, described himself in his opening statement as having a “servant’s heart” and highlighted his experience in state government that includes at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

He also navigated skillfully through a tough grilling from Platte County Commission Chairman Steve Shockley on his understanding of the minute details of property tax policy, including how they are calculated. 
Property taxes are a pivotal issue in county governments this year, as they’re bracing for decreasing budgets from new state laws cutting those revenues. Both Birt and Barnes appeared to stumble when asked similar questions from Shockley.

In response to a question about his goals for his first session in office, Love said he hopes to improve the quality of Wyoming’s public education. Education, he said, is among his top priorities in the coming budget session.

“One of the unique things we’re going to be presented with this budget session is stepping back from the federalization of our education system,” Love said. “We might find new opportunities for what equality looks like education across the state of Wyoming. 

“We may be able to ensure a better education like they did in 1979 when they formed the Department of Education at the federal level."

Love told Cowboy State Daily following his selection that he plans to pay close attention to the concerns of his new constituents.

“I’m going to remain humble and keep my servant’s heart open,” he said. “I’m going to make sure I serve the people of Laramie and Platte County as best I can, make sure I involve the community members in my decisions and thought processes and make sure we’re doing what’s right for them.”

High Praise

After the joint meeting, the other finalists for the state Senate seat said they have no hard feelings.

Birt told Cowboy State Daily that he supports Taft as a politician who has “got his act together.” Barnes agreed, noting how fierce the competition was to even make it to the top three candidates.

State Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, also praised Love's selection to be his colleague in the Legislature in a phone conversation with Cowboy State Daily, highlighting he has some experience in state politics.

“I’m really looking forward to working with him, I think he’s going to be a really solid legislator for Laramie and Platte counties,” Driskill said. “He’s a good, strong conservative that’s got a good head on his shoulders.”

Jackson Walker can be reached at walker@cowboystatedaily.com.